Mayo gets closer, but is still unsigned

When the Patriots take the field this morning to inaugurate training camp, they could be missing first-round pick Jerod Mayo.

As of last night, the sides were close to an agreement, according to an NFL source, but Mayo remained unsigned. Taken with the 10th pick in April's draft, the 6-foot-1-inch, 242-pound linebacker from the University of Tennessee is the team's last unsigned pick.

Getting into camp on time is important for Mayo. He is projected to compete for one of the inside linebacker spots in the Patriots' 3-4 scheme and serve as the heir apparent to Tedy Bruschi.

Mayo has plenty of company around the league. Only nine of the 31 first-round picks - the Patriots were forced to forfeit their other first-round choice, eliminating one of the usual 32 - had signed as of last night and none of the five picks in front of Mayo had come to terms.

Last year, the Patriots couldn't reach an agreement with first-round pick Brandon Meriweather prior to camp, and the defensive back missed the first day before reporting.

The first top-10 pick the team has had since Richard Seymour in 2001, Mayo said this month he was eager to be in camp on time but would leave negotiations to agent Sean Kiernan and the Patriots.

"One of the major things is to come into camp on time, and hopefully, it works itself out," Mayo said this month.

Signing Mayo would bring the Patriots to the 80-man training camp roster limit.

The Hobbs watch

One thing to keep an eye on today is whether cornerback Ellis Hobbs appears on the field. Hobbs had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder in February and went under the knife in March for a hernia. He played with both injuries in the Patriots' 17-14 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

With the departure of Asante Samuel via free agency, Hobbs is the team's top returning cornerback. Barring unreported setbacks, he is believed to be close to full speed.

Weather watch

With rain forecast for much of today, fans are asked to call the information hotline (508-549-0001) before going to Gillette Stadium to watch practice. If practice has to be moved indoors to the Dana-Farber Field House facility, the workout will not be open to the public . . . Former Patriots tight end Christian Fauria, who played on back-to-back Super Bowl winners in 2003-04, said he didn't think the cumulative effect of New England's last two seasons, which ended in the AFC Championship game and the Super Bowl, respectively, would create a drag at the start of camp. "Once you're off a month or two, you're ready to go," said Fauria. If the Patriots are looking for another tight end, Fauria is available. The 36-year-old said he'd be open to playing a 14th season after spending 2007 with the Carolina Panthers.